Inanda gran angry over delays in fixing house
INANDA grandmother Sibongile Mntambo is incensed by the R50 000 offered by Isidingo Security Services after one of their vehicles ploughed into her house in November.
The offer came after the Sunday Tribune reported on the delays in fixing the house and the Mntambo family’s discomfort, especially during inclement weather spells.
“This is outrageous. I don’t know what they are expecting me to do with R50 000. They are trying to take advantage of me because I’m old and poor, so they thought I would jump at the first sight of money,” said Mntambo, who had been in her bedroom when the bakkie veered off Mvelani Road and crashed into the room where her four grandchildren slept.
It was unclear what caused the vehicle to career out of control while going uphill on a straight, tarred road, but there were suspicions the driver might have been speeding.
The crash badly damaged a corner of the house, the asbestos roof, wardrobes, a TV and a bed.
When she rushed to see what had happened, she found the vehicle less than a metre from the children’s bed.
“I didn’t check on the driver. I just grabbed the children and we ran outside,” recalled the 65-year-old pensioner.
Last month, Isidingo operations manager Eric Mkhize said the delays were due to threats and lack of co-operation from the Mntambo family, but the latter disputed the claims.
According to the company’s offer, R37 900 was for building repairs and the rest for replacing damaged furniture.
Mntambo has been an Inanda resident since 1981. Her family lived in a shack until her now late husband Moses built the four-roomed house in 2003.
She asked that Isidingo appoint a contractor to fix the house and deliver the necessary furniture.
“They seem to think that I want to use the money for other things, but I don’t. My priority is to ensure the house is fixed because my fear is that I will die and leave my grandchildren with the house being in this condition.
“The building could even collapse on them.”
Isidingo had not responded to the Sunday Tribune’s questions at the time for publishing.
Nokuthula.ntuli@inl.co.za